Shivraj Patil to visit Jharkhand to review naxal situation

Ranchi, June 11: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will visit Jharkhand today to review the naxal situation in the state. During his day-long visit, Patil will visit the badly-hit districts of Chatra and Palamu.

Besides, he will meet personnel of Central security forces including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and officials of the India Reserve Battalions (IRBs). The Minister will be accompanied by Special Secretary (internal security) M L Kumawat, Additional Secretary (naxal management) Vinay Kumar and Director General of CRPF V K Joshi. Jharkhand along with Chhattisgarh has the maximum incidents of naxal violence and casualty.

According to latest figures by the Home Ministry, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh together account for 67.99 per cent of the total incidents and 75.57 per cent of the total casualties. Jharkhand accounted for 157 casualties in 482 incidents in 2007, compared to 124 casualties in 310 incidents of naxal violence in 2006.